Google has announced that it will finally fix a networking bug that has been present in Android for two and a half years in the platform’s next software update. The bug was first reported to the company back in April 2010, but because it only affects a small number of users, other features have taken priority over its fix.

The Android user who first reported the issue explained to Google that it prevented their device from resolving a hostname on a local domain without first appending the domain name to the hostname. Confusing, I know. Thankfully, the issue wasn’t too much of a problem for most users, but it did affect some who were using their Android devices over Wi-Fi within organizations or colleges.

Now, two and a half years on, Google has announced that the issue will be rectified in its next Android release. The company also explained why the fix took so long:

Guys, it was a matter of prioritization and resources. We don’t have people to put on every requested feature and we certainly were not idle during this time. I apologize it took so long.

I can’t say what the next version will be (neither know it nor can discuss it) but it will be after 4.2, which has already gone out.

Don’t expect the fix to come with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean — which has already been released by Google, even if your handset doesn’t have it yet. But you can look forward to it in Google’s next Android update, whenever that will be.